House Republicans opened the budgeting process Monday with a proposal to increase spending by about $235 million in the next budget year.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said Senate Republicans have not agreed to the plan, but he felt it was important to get the process started.

"The trains have to get moving if we want to get out of here at a certain point in time," he said. "We’ve got to start getting things moving."

Lawmakers try to adjourn by the 100th day of each legislative session when their daily food and housing allowances end. This year, the 100th day of the session is Tuesday, but lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on tax reform and the budget.

Grassley said the spending proposal outlined Monday is intended to fund the state's priorities without over-committing resources.

"It’s easier to be responsible up front than having to come back halfway through the year and having to (make budget cuts)," he said. "We’re trying to avoid that situation."

Revenue continues to grow slowly, though it's consistently fallen short of the estimates lawmakers use to set spending levels. Legislators have had to make mid-year spending cuts in each of the last two years to avoid a budget shortfall.

The proposal outlined Monday creates a $7.489 billion budget. That's a roughly $235 million increase over the $7.254 billion spent in the last budget year after budget cuts took effect.

The proposal outlines broad spending targets, which panels of lawmakers now will use as they create spending bills outlining actual line item appropriations for agencies and programs.

Grassley said he expects those spending bills to advance through committees this week.

The spending targets are based on revenue estimates from the state's Revenue Estimating Conference, and they include a $100 million reduction in those estimates to account for proposed tax cuts. The plan also leaves a $149 million ending balance, which provides a "cushion" for lawmakers if revenue does not meet expectations.